UFC

5 can’t-miss fights at The Ultimate Fighter Finale

Demetrious Johnson defends his UFC flyweight title for the ninth time Saturday night when he takes on the winner of the latest season of “The Ultimate Fighter”, which featured MMA champions from around the world. That’s not the only notable fight on this card, however, as the UFC has laced the card with exciting matchups between some of the promotion’s more promising talent. Check out five fights you won’t want to miss this Saturday night

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5

Gray Maynard vs. Ryan Hall

Gray Maynard got a much-needed win in July to snap a four-fight skid and he’ll look to keep momentum going against up-and-coming featherweight Ryan Hall. Hall, like Maynard, is an accomplished grappler who makes no bones about his desire to take the fight to the ground. Where they differ, however, is on the feet, where Maynard has -- or had, we’ll see -- the power to finish a fight with strikes. This fight will likely go to the ground, eventually, and fans will get a look at how Hall stacks up against one of the best wrestlers to enter the Octagon.

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4

Sara McMann vs. Alexis Davis

Former Olympian Sarah McMann is 2-2 since losing a championship bout to Ronda Rousey in 2014, and knows she need to reel off a few wins if she wants to enter the title conversation again. She’ll face a stiff test in opponent Davis, who outside of her loss to Rousey in 2014 is unbeaten inside the Octagon. Davis is a tireless worker who is always looking to engage, whether on the feet or on the mat while McMann prefers to pick her shots wisely and grind her way to victory.

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3

Jake Ellenberger vs. Jorge Masvidal

Jorge Masvidal looks to string together victories for the first time since 2014 when he takes on 15th-ranked welterweight Jake Ellenberger. Ellenberger re-entered the rankings with a first-round win knockout of Matt Brown as he showcased the heavy hands that have helped him with 31 of his 42 professional fights. Masvidal’s striking never looked better than in his last bout, a clinic against Ross Pearson, and he’ll look to put on another show against Ellenberger.

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2

Joseph Benavidez vs. Henry Cejudo

Joseph Benavidez and Henry Cejudo both want another shot at Demetrious Johnson but will need a win on Saturday to prove they deserve it. Cejudo and Benavidez have developed a spirited rivalry during their time as coaches on the latest season of TUF and they’ll finally get to duke it out on Saturday. Cejudo is a former Olympic wrestler with sneaky good striking while Benavidez is one of the more well-rounded fighters in the division. This is an excellent matchup with serious title shot implications.

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1

Demetrious Johnson vs. Whoever

Demetrious Johnson’s opponent for this Saturday’s event won’t be revealed until tonight’s episode of “The Ultimate Fighter” but it doesn’t matter much. Johnson is probably the most talented fighter on the entire UFC roster, so he’s earned the tag of “must-see TV” every time he takes the Octagon, regardless of who he’s fighting.